Tissue heating and ablation systems and methods which predict maximum tissue temperature
First Claim
1. A method of predicting a maximum temperature of body tissue to be heated, comprising:
- placing an electrode adjacent the body tissue to create an electrode-tissue interface;
heating the thermal mass of the electrode to determine an electrode-tissue interface characterization indicator;
transmitting RF heating energy to the electrode and measuring first and second temperatures at the electrode-tissue interface; and
determining a maximum predicted tissue temperature based at least in part on the determined electrode-tissue interface characterization indicator and the first and second measured temperatures.
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Abstract
Systems and methods heat or ablate body tissue by positioning an electrode to transmit heat or ablation energy to a tissue region. The systems and methods measure a first temperature using a temperature sensing element associated with the electrode. The systems and methods also measure a second temperature using a temperature sensing element associated with the electrode. The systems and methods process at least one of the first and second temperatures to derive a prediction of maximum temperature of the tissue region. The systems and methods generate an output that controls the transmission of the heating or ablation energy based, at least in part, upon the maximum tissue temperature prediction.
460 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of predicting a maximum temperature of body tissue to be heated, comprising:
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placing an electrode adjacent the body tissue to create an electrode-tissue interface;
heating the thermal mass of the electrode to determine an electrode-tissue interface characterization indicator;
transmitting RF heating energy to the electrode and measuring first and second temperatures at the electrode-tissue interface; and
determining a maximum predicted tissue temperature based at least in part on the determined electrode-tissue interface characterization indicator and the first and second measured temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of determining an electrode-tissue interface characterization indicator, comprising:
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placing an electrode adjacent the body tissue to create an electrode-tissue interface;
transmitting RF energy to the electrode for a short duration and measuring first and second temperatures from resultant tissue-electrode interface heating of the thermal mass of the electrode; and
determining an electrode-tissue interface characterization indicator based at least in part from the first and second measured temperatures.
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Specification